SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021 – Page 15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 6:1

Section 6:1–7

The apostles appointed seven men to care for widows

In this section, as more people joined the group of believers, those from Greek-speaking cultures had a complaint. They believed that those from Aramaic-speaking Judea were not taking care of the Greek-speaking widows in regards to distributing food. The apostles did not want to be pulled away from their work of teaching and preaching. So they told the group to choose seven well-regarded men to take responsibility for distributing the food. Steven was one of the men selected.

After that, the size of the group of believers increased quickly, including many Jewish priests.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The apostles chose some/seven men to help the widows
-or-
The apostles chose seven men to be deacons/helpers

Paragraph 6:1–4

6:1a

In those days when the disciples were increasing in number: The phrase In those days refers in general to the period of time when the disciples were increasing in number. This time was probably some months rather than a few days. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

At that time, as the number of disciples grew (God’s Word)
-or-
During those days the number of disciples was increasing and

disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples refers to learners who were in a special relationship with a teacher. The learners committed themselves to their teacher in order to learn from him and live according to his teaching and example.

Some ways to translate disciples are:

• Use a term that refers to people who learn from a teacher or an expert. It is helpful if the term also implies that the learners are often with their teacher. For example:

learners/students
-or-
apprentices

Be careful not to use a term that would refer only to students in a school or classroom.

• Use a term that refers to people who follow a teacher or leader by obeying his teaching. It is helpful if this term also implies learning from the teacher and actually following the teacher wherever he goes. For example:

followers
-or-
those who are committed/faithful (to a teacher/leader)

See how you translated this word in Matthew 5:1, Mark 2:15, Luke 5:30, or John 1:35.

The word or phrase that you use should refer to all believers. (For example, “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).) If your usual word or phrase refers only to the twelve disciples, you may want to use the word or phrase you use for “believers.” For example:

the people they believed
-or-
the believing people

6:1b

the Grecian Jews among them: The Greek is more literally “Greek-speakers.” It refers to believers (6:1a) whose first language was Greek (rather than Hebrew or Aramaic). These believers were Jews. The use of the Greek word here implies that they lived according to some amount of Greek culture, not just Jewish culture.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Greek-speaking Jews (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jews whose ⌊first⌋ language was Greek

The Berean Standard Bible adds the words among them to make it clear that the Grecian Jews were believers too. The word them refers here to the believers in general.

began to grumble: The Greek word here refers to saying one is unhappy or upset and why. These words are usually spoken quietly to others, rather than being announced publicly. Here are some other ways to translate this word:

murmured (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
complained (New International Version)

the Hebraic Jews: Here this phrase refers to Jews whose first language was Hebrew or Aramaic. It implies that they lived according to Jewish culture. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those who spoke Aramaic (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the native Jews (Good News Translation)

6:1c

because their widows were being overlooked: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because:

(1) It means because here. It introduces the reason that the Grecian Jews were complaining. Here it also implies the content of their complaint. For example:

because their widows were neglected (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) It means that here. It introduces the content of what the Grecian Jews were complaining about. For example:

they complained that their widows were being overlooked (Revised English Bible)

(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

their widows were being overlooked: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊someone⌋ was overlooking the widows of the Grecian Jews

Some languages can use “they” here in a generic sense, so that it does not point to anyone in particular. For example:

⌊they⌋ were overlooking the widows of the Grecian Jews

overlooked: This word means “not pay enough attention to.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:

neglected (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
pay little/no attention to

The tense of the Greek verb indicates that this was continuing for some time. The English words “were being” indicate that here.

the daily distribution of food: The Greek is more literally “the daily support/aid.” 6:2 clearly links this to giving food. It was Jewish custom to help the poor, including poor widows. Here are some other ways to translate this:

the daily support (TLV)
-or-
the daily ministry of helping the poor with food

General Comment on 6:1b–c

Some languages must put the reason before the result. If you followed interpretation (1) above, you may need to reorder the clauses and use “therefore” instead of “because.” For example:

1c The Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food, 1b therefore the Greek-speaking Jewish believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jewish believers.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:18

15:18

that have been known for ages: This indicates that God’s plans for the Gentiles have been known for a long time. Other ways to translate this are:

as he made known long ago (Revised English Bible)
-or-

⌊He caused⌋ people to know this long ago

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:9

16:9a

During the night: This phrase may refer to the first night in Troas or some nights later. For example:

That night (Good News Translation)
-or-
One night (New Jerusalem Bible)

Paul had a vision: This clause in Greek is literally “a vision appeared to Paul.” Here the word vision refers to something that appears supernaturally. It is like a dream, but the person is usually awake. It is something or someone that people usually cannot see, but God or Jesus helps them to see it.

Macedonia: Macedonia was a Roman province. It was north of Achaia. The people spoke a dialect of Greek. It was on the other side of the Aegean Sea from Troas.

standing: It is probably implied that in the vision the man was standing in front of Paul.

16:9b

pleading: This word in Greek means “invite” or “summon for aid.” The Greek tense probably indicates that he said “Come over to Macedonia and help us” more than once. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

was…urging (English Standard Version)
-or-
begging
-or-
earnestly requesting ⌊that we help them⌋

Come over to Macedonia and help us: This is a command. The man in the vision was politely requesting Paul to come and help. Translate this as a polite request. Other ways to translate this command are:

Please come to Macedonia and help us.
-or-
Would you come over to Macedonia and help us?
-or-
We would like you to come to Macedonia and help us.

In this vision, the man spoke as if he was in Macedonia.

Come over: This phrase in Greek refers to crossing a barrier. Paul would need to cross the Aegean Sea to get to Macedonia. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Come across (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Cross ⌊the sea⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:1

Section 17:1–9

Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica

In this section, Paul and Silas traveled through several towns and arrived at Thessalonica. Paul preached the gospel of Jesus to the Jews and discussed it with them. Some Jews and a large number of Gentiles who worshiped God believed.

But some Jews did not believe and encouraged some bad people to start a riot against Paul and Silas. They did not find Paul and Silas but dragged a believer named Jason before the city officials. They made him promise to make Paul and Silas leave or else pay a big fine for disturbing the peace. (In 17:10, the believers sent Paul and Silas away from Thessalonica to Berea.)

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul preached in Thessalonica, but some Jews caused people to riot against him
-or-
The Uproar in Thessalonica (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
In Thessalonica (New International Version)

Paragraph 17:1–4

17:1a

they: This pronoun refers to Paul and Silas. This is the start of a new chapter, so you may want to use their names instead of the pronoun they. For example:

Paul and Silas (Good News Translation)

passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia: The phrase passed through indicates that Paul and Silas did not stay long in either Amphipolis and Apollonia. Luke probably mentioned these two cities because Paul and Silas stopped for the night there. They probably did not stop and preach here. For example:

traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
travelled by way of Amphipolis and Apollonia (Revised English Bible)

Amphipolis and Apollonia: These names referred to cities in the province of Macedonia. The distance from Philippi to Amphipolis is about 65 kilometers (40 miles). The distance from Amphipolis to Apollonia is about 50 kilometers (31 miles). The distance from Apollonia to Thessalonica is about 55 kilometers (34 miles). Each of these distances would be an all day journey on foot, or perhaps two days.

17:1b

Thessalonica: Thessalonica was a large city for that time. It is estimated that it had somewhere between 20,000 to 100,000 people living there.

a Jewish synagogue: A synagogue was a building where Jews gathered to pray, read scripture, teach, and worship God. See how you translated the word synagogue in 15:21.

Luke described the synagogue here as Jewish, but the word synagogue usually refers to a building for Jews to gather. For example:

a synagogue (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 17:33

17:33

At that, Paul left the Areopagus: This clause in Greek is literally “Thus Paul went out of their midst.” In 17:22a Paul stood in the midst of the city council. At this time he left the council and that place. Other ways to translate this clause are:

So Paul went out from among them. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
After that Paul left them, (New Jerusalem Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:3

19:3a

Into what, then, were you baptized?: This clause in Greek is literally “Into what then were you baptized?” The phrase “into what” refers to the kind of baptism and therefore what system of beliefs supporting that baptism. The Jews baptized people for ritual cleansing, John the Baptist baptized people to show repentance, and Christians baptized people to show that they believed in Jesus. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Well, then, what kind of baptism did you receive? (Good News Translation)
-or-
For what reason were you baptized?
-or-
When ⌊someone⌋ baptized you, what did it mean/show?

baptized: This word refers to being ceremonially washed with a ritual that uses water. See how you translated this word in 18:25. But the word here should not refer specifically to Christian baptism.

19:3b

The baptism of John: This phrase refers to how (and why) John the Baptist baptized people. It is not a complete sentence. Some languages must have a complete sentence. For example:

⌊It was⌋ John’s baptism.
-or-

⌊We were baptized with⌋ John’s baptism.
-or-

⌊Someone⌋ baptized ⌊us according to the teaching of⌋ John ⌊the Baptist⌋
-or-

⌊Someone⌋ baptized ⌊us according to what⌋ John ⌊the Baptist⌋ ⌊taught⌋

By doing this baptism, they were following what John the Baptist taught. So this answer probably implies that they were disciples of John.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 19:35

Paragraph 19:35–41

19:35a

Finally: The city clerk went to the speaking place and quieted the crowd after they had shouted for two hours. Indicate that 19:35 began after the two hours. For example:

⌊Two hours later,⌋
-or-

⌊Then⌋

Some languages will not need to add anything here, because the translation already clearly indicates that the city clerk quieted the crowd after the crowd had shouted for two hours.

the city clerk quieted the crowd: The clause does not say how the city clerk quieted the crowd. He probably went to the place where a person spoke to everyone in the amphitheater. He then held out his hands in the usual way to request people to become quiet. The people recognized him and his authority and so became quiet.

The Greek clause just states that the city clerk quieted the crowd. It does not indicate or imply that it took a long time.

Other ways to translate this clause are:

After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said (New American Standard Bible)
-or-

⌊Going before the crowd and⌋ quieting them, the town clerk…
-or-
Then the city clerk made the crowd be quiet. (New Century Version)

the city clerk: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as city clerk refers to a city leader. He kept records of city business and funds. He was an important official of the city and probably had the most authority of the city officials. He was responsible to the Roman authorities. He would be responsible if there was a riot in the city. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the chief city official
-or-
the mayor (New Living Translation (2004))

Men of Ephesus: This phrase in Greek is literally “Men, Ephesians.” The address is a polite way to begin speaking to the people. Also, it is not a part of the rhetorical question. For example:

Fellow Ephesians! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Citizens of Ephesus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
O, people of Ephesus.

Men: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Men usually refers only to men, but can refer to people in general. There were probably both men and women in the crowd. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly exclude women. If that is true in your language, use a word or phrase that includes women. For example:

Citizens (New Jerusalem Bible)

19:35b–d

doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasized the opinion that everyone in the world knew that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven. Emphasize this opinion. Some ways are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? (English Standard Version)

• As a statement. For example:

Everyone knows that the city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of the sacred stone that fell down from heaven. (Good News Translation)

19:35b

doesn’t everyone know: This clause in Greek is literally “for who is of people who does not know.” It implies that everyone knows. It exaggerates how many people know. It implies that the people should stop chanting.

19:35c

the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple: Certain people in Ephesus were responsible to take care of the temple and protect it. The people of the city supported this.

Here some languages must refer to the people of the city rather than the city itself. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple (Good News Translation)
-or-
the city of Ephesus is the caretaker of the temple
-or-
the people of Ephesus took care of the temple

19:35d

and of her image, which fell from heaven: The word of indicates that the people of Ephesus also guarded the image.

her image, which fell from heaven: The Greek words are literally “the (thing), fallen from heaven.” The thing that fell was probably a meteorite. It may have been roughly shaped like a person. When people found it, they probably did not carve it or shape it in any way. The people probably thought it looked like Artemis. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the sacred stone that fell down from heaven (Good News Translation)
-or-
the rock that is her likeness that fell from heaven

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 20:26

20:26

Paul spoke as a witness on his own behalf as he declared how he had conducted himself among them. At every opportunity, Paul had told people about Jesus. So if any of those people did not believe in Jesus and God sent them to hell, it would not be because Paul did not tell them about Jesus. Use language that is appropriate for solemnly declaring something.

testify: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as testify is similar to the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “testifying” in 20:24d. It probably has the same meaning here: “proclaim earnestly.” Other ways to translate this word are:

declare (New International Version)
-or-
tell…solemnly (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
definitely/firmly tell

this day: This word in Greek is literally: “on the today day.” It emphasizes the day that Paul spoke these words. For example:

this very day (Good News Translation)

But the New International Version and some other English versions do not translate the emphasis. The Berean Standard Bible translates it as this day .

I am innocent of the blood of all men: Here the phrase the blood is a metaphor for death. To have “someone’s blood upon you” means to be guilty of killing them. Paul used this metaphor here to indicate that he preached about Jesus at every opportunity. He was innocent of neglecting to tell them. Therefore God, when he judges all people, would not hold him responsible for anyone not believing in Jesus.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate the words literally and explain the metaphor in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Paul used this metaphor here to indicate that he preached about Jesus at every opportunity. He was innocent of neglecting to tell them about him. Therefore God, when he judges all people, would not blame him for anyone not believing in Jesus.

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor in your translation. For example:

if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible (Good News Translation)
-or-
I am not responsible for the [spiritual] death of any of you. (God’s Word)
-or-
I am innocent of neglecting to tell any of you about Jesus, so God will not blame me if anyone does not believe in him.

You may then want to indicate the literal words in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Literally: “I am innocent of the blood of all ⌊people⌋.”

innocent: The word innocent means “not guilty of a crime or sin.” God told him to tell others about Jesus, and Paul did that. Other ways to translate this word are:

have not sinned regarding
-or-
am not guilty of

of all men: This phrase in Greek is literally “of all.” Paul preached about Jesus at every opportunity in every place he went.

Here the English word men refers to people. For example:

of all people

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 2021